The price for Konjak's gorgeous 2D platformer, Noitu Love 2 has been reduced from $19.95 to $10. If you haven't played the full game (doubtful, I know) then here's the perfect chance to get a taste of what you've been missing out on.
Crayon Physics Deluxe will be widely available from Kloonigames' web site starting tomorrow (with digital distribution partners to be announced later), although customers who pre-ordered the game would have received the download link in their inboxes by now. (YouTube video)
It was announced today that Pocketwatch Games' next project will take us back to the age of dinosaurs, something that Andy had hinted about a couple of weeks ago. Titled Dinosauria, the game currently has no completion date set although fans of the Venture series can pretty much expect a release for both Windows and Mac when it is ready. You can help shape the game from its infancy by contributing suggestions and feedback in the official forums as well.
Announcing Dinosauria (Pocketwatch Games)
Squid Yes! Not So Octopus! is a new arena shooter from the author of War Tw... Bus and the Tempest-inspired G-Force. Alien robots from the planet Thwip are invading the home of a mutated radioactive squid, so you must assume control over this deadly creature and drive back the invasion with your patented beams of electro death.
You earn a point for every minute you survive in the game. The enemy assault last a whole eight minutes, and if you manage to make it past that point then the aliens will concede defeat and return to their homeworld, allowing you to have your cup of tea in peace and serenity once again. (forum thread)
Name: Squid Yes! Not So Octopus!
Developer: Oddbob
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here
The Manipulator is a 2D puzzle platformer created by Virtanen Games, developer of Seven Minutes and Virtual Silence. In it, you play a psychic who has the ability to control the minds of others and influence them to carry out your orders. Use the cursor keys to move, press the Z key to jump, tap the X key to shoot, and hold the C key to read someone's thoughts.
There are multiple endings to discover in this game.
Name: The Manipulator
Developer: Virtanen Games
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here (download mirror)
Featured on this week's Free Indie Rapid Fire: Derek Yu's Spelunky, Virtanen Games' The Manipulator and KNPMaster's Kung Fu II. (YouTube video)
Free Indie Rapid Fire 01/05/2009
Interview: Daniel Remar, Iji (Bytejacker)
This week on Wolfire Games' Design Tour series: Bit Blot's Aquaria is examined in detail, where David discusses about everything from Alec Holowka's technical proficiency and musical talent to Derek Yu's mastery of the (digital) painting brush.
[From now until early January, IndieGames.com: The Weblog will be counting down the best independent and freeware games of 2008, with descriptions, screenshots, and links of the best games in each major category.]
The seventh of the 2008 Best Of Features here on the IndieGames.com blog, we're proud to present twenty of the best freeware shoot 'em ups released in 2008.
Fans of Galaga, Space Invaders, Warning Forever, and Everyday Shooter, step right up. Only a courageous pilot would stand any chance of saving Earth from being enslaved by an invading alien race, once again. Leave your Zero Wing quotes behind, because you will need every ounce of your arcade skills to make it through our picks for the best twenty freeware shoot 'em ups of 2008 alive.
Here's the top freeware shoot 'em ups of the year:
Best Freeware Shoot 'em ups 2008
1. Alien Assault
2. Nobody Shooter
3. Debrysis
4. Harpooned
5. Pasta Master
6. Nanosmiles
7. Armed Generator Doom Machine
8. Hello Panda
9. Ceramic Shooter
10. Made in Wired
11. The Hordes
12. G:plus
13. War Bus
14. Self Destruct
15. Artificial Nature
16. The Last Canopy
17. Attack of the Meeplings
18. 41st Reality
19. Areas
20. pararalyzer
[Got feedback? Reasons to disagree? Post a response and we'll do a special 'best of reader comments' round-up at the end of our chart countdowns.]
[From now until early January, IndieGames.com: The Weblog will be counting down the best independent and freeware games of 2008, with descriptions, screenshots, and links of the best games in each major category.]
The sixth of the 2008 Best Of Features here on the IndieGames.com blog, we're proud to present twenty of the best freeware adventure games released in 2008.
We've compiled a list of twenty adventure games to proof that the genre is still very much alive, with picks such as a western-themed IF, an educational game for both adults and children, a chatroom simulator, a couple of sequels, and even a remake of a past Sierra classic in full VGA glory to satiate anyone's desire for more questing.
Here's the top freeware adventure games of the year:
Best Freeware Adventure Games 2008
1. Dirty Split
2. Life of D. Duck II
3. The Vacuum
4. Fedora Spade 4: The Last Job
5. Yume Nikki
6. Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire
7. Broken Sword 2.5: Return of the Templars
8. Gun Mute
9. NES Quest
10. Nanobots
11. Sydney Treads the Catwalk
12. Ben Jordan Case 7: The Cardinal Sins
13. Limey Lizard: Waste Wizard
14. Beauties and Beasts
15. Chatroom
16. Questionaut
17. Everybody Dies
18. Daymare Town 2
19. Pragaras
20. The Maze of Madness
[Got feedback? Reasons to disagree? Post a response and we'll do a special 'best of reader comments' round-up at the end of our chart countdowns.]
Gravity Bone is a short standalone game powered by the Quake 2 engine, in which players assume the role of a secret agent who has to undertake a couple of mission-based objectives to advance the story. There are only two short levels to play, and the entire adventure takes about twenty minutes or so to complete.
The game comes in a zip file, no installation is required, and the original Quake 2 is not needed to run it. (source: GameTunnel)
Name: Gravity Bone
Developer: Brendon Chung
Category: Action, Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB
Direct download link: Click here
Gamasutra (the 'art and business of games'.)
Game Career Guide (for student game developers.)
Worlds In Motion (discussing the business of online worlds.)
Games On Deck (serving mobile game developers.)
Game Set Watch (the Group's alt.game weblog.)